City of Ballarat will table a recommendation at Wednesday’s council meeting to appoint an independent panel to review public submissions received from the latest Woodmans Hill Master Plan amendment. 

Council received 36 submissions during the exhibition of amendment C137 between May 22 and June 23. 

Some of the public submissions called for the revised master plan to:

• Strengthen planning mechanisms on site;

• Prevent further industrial development; 

• Provide freeway access; and

• Allow for smaller lot development in Warrenheip. 

The Woodmans Hill Master Plan was amended to recognise that two sites north of the Western Highway had the potential for future development. 

The amendment also included rezoning the land south of the Western Highway from Mixed Use Zone to a Rural Living Zone. 

The Woodmans Hill Gateway Precinct Master Plan seeks to provide a strategic land use direction for the Woodmans Hill area.

City of Ballarat Mayor Joshua Morris said the request for an independent panel review was procedural. 

“Council is going to have the opportunity to consider the future land use of Woodmans Hill and we will be able to further consider that when this returns to the council again,” Cr Morris said. 

The move comes months after the development of a Rivers Australia shop, warehouse and resort at Woodmans Hill was terminated.

Last October Rivers Australia said the Woodmans Hill development would create 400 new jobs in Ballarat. 

But Specialty Fashion Group (SFG) took over Rivers Australia for $5 million only weeks before councillors voted to unlock the land in preparation for a new employment precinct around Rivers Park.

kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au